There are a dizzying array of different translation techniques. However, we’ve listed some types you’re most likely to encounter and explained what each one represents in detail. This covers all of the key approaches, techniques, tactics, processes, and areas of specialization in translation.
It’s our method of assisting you in understanding the many types of translation and selecting the ones that are best for you.
1. General Translation
That is, writing that anyone can understand without having to be an expert in a certain field. However, these will either be generally recognized or may be easily studied. The text may still contain some technical phrases and jargon.
What does it imply?
The inference is that any experienced translator can complete this type of translation without the requirement for specialized knowledge. Sometimes “generalist” or “general purpose” translators are used to refer to translators who only specialize in this type of translation.
Examples of this translation type are the information about a company, its products, and services that can be seen on its website as well as non-technical reports.
2. Technical Translation
Technical translation has two different meanings from our perspectives:
First, it includes any translation task for which the translator requires specialized expertise in some field or field of study. Almost all of the translation types discussed in this section would fall under this criteria. Second, it is limited only to the translation of materials in the fields of engineering (in all its branches), information technology, and business.
Legal, financial, and medical translations, for instance, would be covered under the larger definition but not under this specific definition.
What does it imply?
Technical translations call for expertise in the subject matter or industry of the source text.
This is so that translators can accurately convey the text’s meaning without it. And if we want a translation that is completely correct and suitable, doing this is crucial. Numerous technical translation jobs also call for typesetting and desktop publishing.
3. Scientific Translation
The technical translation of texts pertains to the scientific field and or scientific research. These texts frequently draw on cutting-edge research and generally use vocabulary relevant to the subject matter.
Therefore, it’s crucial that the translator has the required expertise to thoroughly comprehend the material. Because of this, scientific translators are often either subject-matter specialists who have turned to translation or professionally trained translators who also have training in the subject area.
To completely understand the text and properly translate it, the translator may occasionally need to speak with the author or other subject-matter experts. Examples of scientific documents are journal articles, experiment/trial findings, research papers, research publications, etc.
4. Medical Translation
The medical translation would deal with content related to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.
A fairly broad word, “medical translation,” refers to a multitude of specialized fields and resources, including everything from patient information to legal, marketing, and technical documentation.
As a result, there are many other possible sub-categories for this translation type, such as “medical device translations” and “clinical trial translations.”
The translators must have a thorough understanding of the source material, just like with any other literature. They must have solid medical terminology knowledge in addition to frequently specialized subject-matter knowledge.
Regulations governing the translation of pharmaceutical and medical device paperwork are specific in many nations. Both your client-facing and product-related items fall under this category.
5. Financial Translation
Translation of documents related to banking, the stock market, currency exchange, financing, and financial reporting, in broad words.
However, the phrase is typically exclusively applied to the more complex papers in this category, which call for specialized translators. A bank statement, for instance, might be translated by any proficient translator; thus, it is not often regarded as a financial translation.
What does it imply?
To accurately grasp and translate the financial terminology in these materials, you require translators with subject-matter experience. Examples include a company’s financial statements, yearly reports, fund or product prospectuses, audit reports, and IPO papers.
6. Economic Translations
This specific field of translation often falls between or in other field of translations. Occasionally, this field is used interchangeably with financial translations. It is also also used quite loosely to refer to any sector of the economy, mixing business/commercial, financial, and certain technical translations.
A clearer example would be the document translation that is more precisely focused on the economy and the study of economics. As always, you need translators for this form of translation who have the necessary skills and knowledge and those who have enough background in the related field because of the multi-perceptional terms and specific vocabulary interpretation.
